A good night’s sleep is crucial for physical restoration, cognitive function and overall health, but you already know that. What you may not know about are the little habits that are preventing you from having a great night’s sleep. Avoid doing these 5 things before bed.

1. Drinking alcohol

Because alcohol often makes people feel sleepy, many resort to having a glass of wine before bed. This habit, however, reduces the quality of your sleep. More specifically, alcohol reduces the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that takes place, depriving your body of the restoration it needs.

2. Using electronics

You’ve probably heard this one again and again, but it’s because it’s true. The type of light that is emitted from smart phones, laptops, and TVs sends signals to your brain that promote wakefulness. This makes it more difficult for you to fall asleep and reduces the amount of time that you’ll spend in a deep sleep.

3. Eating certain foods

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a light snack before bed, however, having a big meal right before you sleep will make falling asleep that much more difficult. Since large or fatty meals take longer to digest, these types of bedtime snacks will keep your body working and disrupt your sleep as a result.

4. Working out

Exercise is a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to sleep. While exercise is a great way to tire yourself out before bed, it can potentially have the exact opposite effect. The trick is to not go too hard. A light workout before bed has many benefits, but an intense cardio workout can boost your energy levels, making it hard for your body to wind down.

5. Working

Whether it’s catching up on emails or putting together to-do lists for the next day, avoid doing any work at least an hour before bedtime. Regardless of your job, work has the tendency to consume our thoughts and add stress to our lives. If you start thinking about work right before bed, it will be that much more difficult for you to clear your mind and drift off to sleep.

Sleep better by cutting these 5 things out of your pre-bedtime routine.

Are you a sleep procrastinator?